The plum tree Blue Tit - best for beginners By David Marks Plum trees are generally healthy fruit trees but for the newcomer they have two areas of weakness. Firstly they produce too much fruit in some years causing damage to branches, sometimes severely so. Their second general weakness is susceptibility to canker which, over time, weakens them and opens them up to a range of other infections. If the beginner can avoid these two problems then they are far more likely to enjoy growing their plum trees. One variety which minimises these problems is Blue Tit. With regular, medium sized crops and good disease resistance this variety is ideal for the beginner. PARENTAGE OF BLUE TIT The parents of Blue Tit are Czar and Old Green Gage. It has taken the superb taste of Old Green Gage and combined it with the cropping reliability of Czar. It was bred by Laxton Brothers of Bedford in 1938. APPEARANCE, TASTE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF BLUE TIT The appearance of the tree itself is a clue as to why it suffers less from branch damage compared to most. The branches are held close together in an upright manner with a strong main trunk and individual branches.

The leaves are deep green and relatively unaffected by any marks or signs of disease. Blue Tit fully looks the part of a strong growing and healthy tree. The fruits are slightly smaller than some other varieties, four bites and they are gone! An ideal size, not too small but not too big. The fruits are initially a light green colour which turns to a deep blue-purple as they ripen. When fully ripe the fruits are deeply coloured all over. Cut one in half and the small stone inside can easily be removed. The fruit flesh a deep orange yellow colour and is quite dense. This is not a fruit which will squish all over the place when you bite into it but at the same releases lots of juice. As far as taste goes this variety can be used as both an eater and a cooker. The acidity necessary for cooking comes from the skin and if picked a week or so before they are perfectly ripe the flesh retains texture and some form so necessary for a plum pie of crumble. Let the plums ripen completely and Blue Tit has an eating flavour and texture which equals the best of all plums and gages. It's juicy and sweet with a perfect plum texture.

As with all plums and gages they do not keep well, a week or two at the most. But pick them a week earlier than needed and they will ripen for week in the kitchen to perfection. This variety is self-fertile although another suitable plum tree nearby ( Victoria does well) will increase the yield. The pollination group is D and the blossoms suffer very little from late frosts. It is suitable for all but the coldest parts of the UK. All the normal pruning rules for plums apply to this variety although it will tolerate a degree of neglect better than others. In early summer, plum trees look especially impressive if they have huge crops of young fruit. But if you forget to ruthlessly thin that fruit for most varieties, the result will be broken branches, a resulting low yield and lots of potential for canker and other diseases to take hold. Blue Tit tends to produce a more reasonable and sustainable crop with greater tree health. Blue Tit is ideal for growing in the garden or allotment and we would suggest a St Julien A rootstock to give a very manageable tree size of about 3.5m to 4m (11ft to 13ft) after five years.

A Pixy rootstock will also do well if your soil conditions are good and the tree is grown in a protected position, producing a 2.5m to 3m (7ft to 9ft) tree after five years. Blue Tit is ideal for growing in a large container on a VVA-1 rootstock. Ripe Blue Tit plums Pictures from public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v2.0. POLLINATION PARTNERS FOR BLUE TIT PLUM TREES Blue Tit plum trees are self-fertile and will produce a more than adequate crop of plums on their own without any other plum trees nearby. If any fruit tree sellers tell you otherwise they will simply be trying to sell you two plum trees where in truth, a single tree of this variety will do fine by itself. However, this variety makes an excellent pollinator for the following other plum trees: Victoria - pollination group 3, self-fertile BUYING A BLUE TIT TREE Blue Tit is available for sale in some garden centres though by no means all, it is however gaining in popularity. It is unlikely to be found in supermarkets and diy stores. It's widely available online as a bare-rooted tree and occasionally container-grown.

No particular supplier stands out against the others for this plum tree, just choose a well known stockist to buy this plum tree. SUMMARY CHARACTERISTICS OF BLUE TIT USE: Both eating and cooking SKIN COLOUR / TEXTURE: Deep blue when ripe FLESH COLOUR: Deep orange / yellow TASTE AND TEXTURE: When fully ripe it is juicy, sweet with a medium firm texture FRUIT SIZE: Slightly below average, great for kids and adults TREE SIZE: Average size depending on rootstock and conditions REGULARITY OF CROPPING: More regular than most other plums and gages POLLINATION: Group 4, self-fertile SPECIAL FEATURES: Multi-purpose plum with superb fruits, good disease resistance FLOWERING AND FRUITING TIMES: The average flowering time (optimum time for pollination) and date when fruits are ripe in the UK for the Blue Tit tree are set out below. If you have set your home town we can give you a more accurate estimate, if you have not set your home town ( do it now by clicking here ) the dates below will be the average for the UK.

Your town has not been set, the average main flowering time for Blue Tit in the UK is the third week of April. Fruit will be ready for picking in the second to third weeks of August. Click here if you want to set the dates to your home town. Flowering and fruit picking dates vary according to the weather in any particular growing season so the above dates may well change slightly from one year to the next. The flowering date above is when the plum tree produces the maximum number of blossoms, it will also produce blossom, although less, a week or two either side of the date given. MORE PAGES ABOUT GROWING PLUM TREES: How to grow plums / RHS Gardening Recipes Grow Cover fan-trained trees temporarily in a tent of horticultural fleece on frosty nights when plants are in flower, holding the fleece away from the flowers with canes. Fruit set is generally finished by early summer, after which the fruits start to swell significantly. Once fruit has set, they may need thinning to ease congestion and weight in the canopy, as well as to boost fruit size. It is often essential to prop up branches in mid- and late summer, as fruit weight can otherwise snap them.

Yields can be greatly increased by appropriate and timely feeding and watering. Because they can set such heavy crops, plums and gages, and to a lesser extent damsons, respond well to fertilisers, especially nitrogen. On established trees apply a mulch of well-rotted farmyard manure in mid-spring to help retain soil moisture, keep down weeds, and provide nitrogen. This can be supplemented with a top-dressing of dried poultry pellets or non-organic nitrogen fertiliser such as sulphate of ammonia. Add a top-dressing of sulphate of potash in late winter. Pruning Pruning should be carried out in spring or summer. Avoid pruning in the dormant season or in mid to late autumn, as there is risk of infection from silver leaf disease and bacterial canker. There are three commonly used methods of plum pruning and training: bush, pyramid and fan. Plant Plums have quite high moisture demands, so they are best planted on good clay or loamy soils. But sites also need to be well drained as plums, and gages in particular, hate waterlogged soils. Add bulky organic matter to sandy or shallow chalky soils prior to planting.

When growing in a container, make sure pots are large enough to prevent the potting compost drying out in summer. These stone fruits are some of the earliest crops to flower in the fruit garden. While the plants themselves are often extremely hardy, the flowers can easily be killed by frosts, so it’s essential to position trees out of frost pockets or windy sites; a sheltered, sunny spot will produce the best results. Gages in particular are best sited against a south- or west-facing wall to ensure the fruits are exposed to sufficient sunshine and warmth to develop their sweet, rich flavour and to ripen wood. Thanks to modern rootstocks and restrictive training techniques any garden can accommodate at least one of these trees - if not more. Standard, pyramid, fan, and festooned tree forms are all possibilities. There are hundreds of cultivars to choose from for both cooking and dessert use - those with limited outdoor space can opt for a dual-purpose cultivar to get maximum use from the crop. Many are self-fertile so a single tree can be planted, while some are self-infertile, so check with the supplier before buying. When buying look for a system of well-balanced branches with a strong central leader.

You can then train and prune the plant to any of the popular tree forms. Plant plum trees during the dormant season, before growth starts in late winter or early spring. Bare-root plants usually establish better than container-grown trees. Stakes or training wires may be needed depending on the type of tree form you decide to grow. Common problems Brown rot: Brown rot is a fungal disease causing a brown, spreading rot in fruit, sometimes with white pustules of fungi on the surface. It is usually worse in wet summers. Remedy: Remove all rotten fruit as soon as you see it and destroy, this will prevent the spread of the rot. There is no chemical control. More info on Brown rot Silver leaf: Leaves develop a silvery sheen, cut branches reveal red staining. Remedy: Prune from the end of June until the end of August or in early spring. Keep pruning cuts to a minimum, pruning regularly so cut surfaces are small. More info on Silver leaf Plum maggots: The larvae of plum moth and plum sawfly tunnel through fruits making them unappetising. In the case of plum moth, misshapen fruits form and there are droppings within the fruits.

Damaged fruitlets often fall in summer. Remedy: For plum moth deltamethrin or lambda cyhalothrin can be used in mid June with a second application three weeks later. Pheromone traps, specifically for plum moth, are available and these can help get the timing of sprays right. These traps capture male moths and might actually help protect isolated trees. Plum sawfly is prevented by spraying at petal fall with the same materials. On small trees it is worthwhile looking for damaged fruitlets in May. These should be removed before the larvae complete their feeding and go into the soil. More info on Plum maggots Bacterial canker: This serious disease of stone fruit causes sunken, dead areas of bark often accompanied by a gummy ooze. It can kill off entire branches. Remedy: Where possible, carry out all pruning in July or August when tissues are most resistant. This is also the best time to prune in order to minimise the risk of silver leaf disease. Cut out all cankered areas, pruning back to healthy wood and paint promptly with a wound paint to protect the wound from re-infection. Burn or landfill the prunings.

More info on Bacterial canker Wasps: All tree fruits are prone to wasp damage. As their fruits ripen, the high sugar content attracts wasps, which not only damages the fruit but also poses a threat to gardeners. Remedy: Hang wasp traps in trees and harvest crops as soon as they ripen. Avoid leaving windfalls or over-ripe fruit on the ground. More info on Wasps Harvesting Plums develop their best flavour if left to ripen on the tree. If they feel soft when gently squeezed, they are ripe. Trees will generally need picking over several times. Harvest fruits carefully so as not to bruise them, then eat fresh, destone and freeze, or make the fruits into preserves. Recipes Nigel Slater says damsons are the best type for this ice cream recipe , but any rich-flavoured plums can be used. Mary Berry offers this delicious chutney recipe for when plums are in season. Varieties ‘Early Laxton’ AGM: A dessert plum with red flushed, yellow fruit in mid to late summer. ‘Marjorie’s Seedling’ AGM: Heavy cropping, culinary plum. ‘Czar’ AGM: Blue plums for cooking.

‘Victoria’ AGM: Dual-purpose plum with orange-red fruit from late summer to early autumn. ‘Blue Tit’ AGM: Compact dessert plum with blue, juicy fruit in late summer. Plums | Plumbe & Maufe llp Plumbe & Maufe LLP Angelina Burdett Angelina Burdett This is an English plum of unknown parentage. First raised by a Mr Dowling in Woolston near Southampton in 1843. This is a self sterile Blue-Black plum, medium round / oval with a cling stone. This plum is ideal for making prunes. It is a Dessert plum ripe in September. Anna Spath Anna Spath This is a Hungarian plum of unknown parentage, first raised near Kadoszbeg and discovered by a Mr Spath in 1874. It is a Purple Oval plum medium to large in size with a free stone. It eats better than it looks.! It is ripe about 10th of September Avalon This is an English plum, parents are Reeves open pollinated. First raised by Long Ashton as WJ10 in 1970 and is self sterile. This is a Gloden Red plum quite large and stone free.

It is ripe around 12th of August. Blue Tit Blue Tit This is an English plum, parents are Czar Greengage First raised by Laxtons of Bedford in 1938. This is a Blue / black medium sized plum, self fertile with a clinging stone. It is a dual purpose plum, culinary and dessert. Ripe mid August. This is a French plum from Bry- sur-Marne of unknown parentage. First grown in 1820. This is a Blue black small to medium plum, it is self sterile and stone free. It is primarily a Dessert plum of superb flavour. Ripe around 20th of July. Bountiful Cross This is an English plum parentage is Bountiful and open pollinated. First raised at Long Ashton as the WJ53 about 1970. This is a Bright Yellow plum medium in size with a clinging stonre. It is a Dual purpose plum ( eat and dessert). Ripe around 12th of August. Coes Golden Drop This is an English raised plum, parents are Greengage and White Magnum Bonum.

First grown by Jervais Coe near Bury St Edmunds in the late 1700’s. This is a large Golden oval plum, self sterile with a cling stone. It has a strong rich flavour, ideal for desserts or to eat alone. Ripe around 15th of September. Cox’s Emperor The parents are Greengage and open polinated, first grown in New York State about 1790. It is self fertile yellowish in colour and with a clinging stone. An ideal dessert gage rather than a plum. An interesting gage, well worth a try.! Early Laxton This is an English plum, parents are Catalonia Early Rivers. First grown by Laxton Brothers near Bedford in 1907. It is self sterile, medium sized and Yellow / Red in colour. This is a Dual purpose plum ( culinary and Dessert ) with a free stone. It is ripe around 18th July. Edda This is a Norwegian plum, parents are Czar Peche. First raised Mr Statens at Njos around 1950. This is a large Blue Black round / oval plum. It has a free stone and is ideal for Desserts.

It is ripe around 1st of August. Excalibur This is a large English plum, parents are Count Althan open pollinated. First grown at Long Ashton as WJ4 in 1970. It is a self sterile plum, large and yellow-reddish. It has a free stone and is an ideal Dessert plum. It is ripe about 20th of August. Hermans This is a Swedish plum, parents are Czar / Ruth Gerstetter. First grown in Balsgard, Sweden about 1972. It is a medium sized Blue Violet plum, stone free and ideal for eating fresh or as a dessert plum. It is ripe about 15th of July, normally the first of our season. Jubileum or Jubilee Jubileum or Jubilee This is a very nice plum, similar in taste to the much better known Vicotria but larger and ripe slightly earlier. First grown in Sweden, the Jubileum has excellent flavour and is ideal to eat fresh or to make jam. Kirkes Blue This is a large round Blue – Black plum. Parent is unknown. Introduced by Kirke of Brompton about 1831.

It is self sterile and has a free stone. A very good Dessert plum but liable to split in the wet.A lovely plum one of the favourites. It is ripe around 23rd of August. Marjorie Seedlings A delicious eating plum with blue-black skin and juicy yellow flesh, ready mid-September. This plum keeps well in the fridge: storage for up to 4 weeks is possible. Mirabelle ( Golden Sphere) Mirabelle ( Golden Sphere) A nice size plum with yellow skin, sweet, dessert. An ancient variety, thought to have originated in Turkey or the Near East and brought back to Western Europe by returning Crusaders. Opal Opal This is a Swedish plum, the parents are Oulins and Early Favorite. First grown near Almarp in 1925. It is a reddish purple plum, medium in size and part fertile. A very nice plum, similar in colour and taste to the Victoria but slightly smaller in size. It is ripe around 28th of July. Reeves Reeves We believe this is a Canadian plum, the parentage is unknown but was found by Mr A. Reeves at Chillwack, British Columbia in 1940.

It is a self sterile reddish/purple, quite large with a free stone. This is a dual purpose plum. It is ripe around 16th August. Sanctus Hubertus Sanctus Hubertus This is a Belgium plum, the parents are Mater Dolorosa Early Rivers, first grown by Mr N.V.Frugovex in 1966. It is a Dark Red plum, self sterile with a free stone. Primarily a Dessert plum. It is ripe around 28th August. Victoria Victoria This is an English plum and our favourite with customers. The parentage is unknown but we believe was first grown near Alderton in Sussex around 1840. It is a large Oval plum, Reddish/Orange in colour and with a free stone. This is a multi purpose plum, ideal for eating, cooking and jam making. It is ripe around 20th August. Violetta This is a Swedish plum of unknown parentage. First grown by us in 1990. It is a medium sized Blue plum, self fertile and with a free stone. It is ripe about 31st of July.

WJ62 Emma’s Ruby Approximate ripening date: 6th Aug WJ63 Gina’s Delight This a very large deep blue plum, probably the largest in our orchards. It is named after Nina’s daughter Gina who loves it.! WJ64 Garry’s Gold Phone number 07774996634 or 07760266064 Leith House Orchards See Also - Plum Rootstocks | How to grow Plums | Tree Forms All plum fruit trees are pollinated by insects, however some plum trees need to be planted near to another plum tree of a different cultivar (variety) to ensure a good crop, so choosing the right plum trees is of utmost importance to avoid disappointment. The information below will make it easy for you to choose suitable plum tree(s). Although there are a few cultivars available which are self fertile, i.e. they pollinate themselves with no need for another tree, unless you are absolutely sure of what you are buying, it’s best to err on the side of caution and buy two different cultivars of plum trees to ensure you get a reasonable crop of cherries.

If you have lots of plum trees nearby in neighbouring gardens or allotments, you may get away with buying just one tree so long as the distance isn’t too great. Before you buy your trees, consideration must be given to the flowering time of the trees being purchased to guarantee the flowers from all trees blossom at around the same time so that insects can cross-pollinate. Below is a chart showing some popular cultivars available which have been grouped in accordance to their flowering time. It is therefore important to choose trees which are either in the same group or from adjacent groups. For example, any tree from group C can be pollinated by any tree from group B or Group D Self-Sterile = need another cultivar to produce a reasonable crop Self-Fertile = will produce a reasonable crop if planted singly Part Self-Fertile = produce a better crop if planted close to another cultivar Early Season - Harvest June onwards Mid Season - Harvest July onwards Late Season - Harvest Late July onwards Plum Tree Varieties with pictures Choosing Your Plum Tree (continued) TASTE The best way to make a decision on taste, is to understand a little about the variety of plums available. Bullace - strictly a cooking plum.

The trees are smaller than normal and very hardy, they are also ornamental. The fruit has a very sharp flavour, excellent for jams and preserving. Damson - another cooking plum, but sweeter than the bullace. The fruits are have a sharpish taste and are ideal for pies, tarts and jams. Plum - some are cooking and some are eating. These make up some of the best plums for the UK climate. Gage - eating (desert) plums. These are some of the the sweetest form of plum and they have a distinct 'plum' fragrance. RECOMMENDED VARIETIES Taste is a matter of personal preference, GardenAction list below some popular varieties of plum which you may wish to consider. Click on the plum variety names below for a picture. VARIETY Blue Tit plum trees for sale | Order online A self-fertile dual purpose blue-black plum with good flavour and reliable cropping Origin: Bedfordshire UK 1938 Pollination: Blue Tit is self-fertile and a pollinator is not necessary for producing a crop. Show suitable pollination partners Blue Tit Plum Trees for sale - order online Please select the rootstock, age and tree form available items in the table below.

The choice of rootstock is important as it determines the size to which the tree will grow when mature. Trees are available either as maidens which are untrained one year old trees or two year old trees already trained in a particular form. Reduced price trees when available are smaller one year old trees or two year old trees which have less well developed heads than our regular trees but are otherwise perfectly good healthy trees offered at a lower price. Trees are supplied bare root during the planting season from late November to early March. Further information is available below. The availability information shown in the availability column in the table is always up-to-date. Available means Available for supply from Nov 2016 to March 2017 2017/18 means Sold out but available for supply winter 2017/18. Orders taken from May 2017 Sold out means Sold out for supply Nov 2016 to March 2017. May be available again winter 2017/18 History and description of Blue Tit Raised by Laxton Bros in Bedford, UK from a cross between Czar and Greengage. Introduced in 1938. Medium sized, round-oblong fruit.

Blue-black bloomy skin. Regarded mainly as a culinary variety but its juicy sweet flesh and slightly tart skin make it a good dessert variety. Produces a compact bushy tree. Self fertile and a reliable good cropper. Main characteristics of Blue Tit Use Plums - Fruit Trees - Harley Nursery - Shrewsbury - Shropshire Plums Plums are the most popular stone fruit and they are the easiest to grow. Plums come in all shapes and sizes. They have a smooth textured flesh which depending on variety varies in colour from red to purple and green to yellow. There are dessert and culinary varieties. Dessert varieties can be eaten straight from the tree, these are sweet and succulent, the culinary varieties are firmer and less sweet. Plums are early flowering so they require protection from frost. The best flavoured plums are the ones grown on a south or west facing position. Grow in moderately fertile, moist, well-drained neutral to slightly acidic soils. Rootstocks Rootstocks in order of their vigour are outlined below: - Pixy - Dwarf. An ideal rootstock for the smaller garden. It needs to be grown in fertile and weed-free soil. It will reach a height of 2.4-3m.

Trees grown on this rootstock will bear fruit within 3 years. Use for dwarf bushes, dwarf pyramids, and small fans. St. Julian A - Semi-Vigorous. A good rootstock for most soils. Trees grown on this rootstock will reach a height of 3-3.5m. Trees grown on this rootstock will bear fruit within 4-5 years. Use for bushes, half-standards, and fans. Varieties Plums are available as bare-root one-year-maidens from November to March. Trained forms of plums are available in 12 litre pots all-year-round. Plum 'Avalon' Dessert. Large round-oval fruit which has golden skin which is mostly covered with a red flush and deeper red dots and russet dots. The yellow flesh is moderately juicy, fairly sweet and of good flavour. Good quality dessert plum. Its season of use is mid-August. Flowering Group 2 (Bristol 1980) Bare Root Trees One Year Maiden SJA Â£22.75 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days Plum 'Belle de Louvain' Dessert/Cooker.

Very large oval fruit which has dull purplish-red skin when ripe and is covered with a thick, blue bloom. The greenish yellow flesh is moderately juicy, has a firm texture and is sweet. Its season of use is mid-August. Flowering Group 3 (Belgium 1845) Self Fertile. Containerised Trees Three Year 1/2 Standard SJA Â£40.75 each Bare Root Trees One Year Maiden Pixy Â£27.00 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days One Year Maiden SJA Â£22.75 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days Two Year Bush VVA-1 Â£30.75 each Plum 'Blaisdon Red' Dessert/Cooker. Medium sized oval fruit which has claret red skin. The greenish flesh is hard and very acid. Its season of use is early August.

Flowering Group 3 (Gloucestershire) Self Fertile Bare Root Trees One Year Maiden Brompton Â£22.75 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days Plum 'Blue Tit' Dessert/Cooker. Medium sized round-opal fruits which have dark blue skin which is covered with a thick, light blue bloom. The yellow flesh is moderately juicy and of good flavour and quality. Its season of use is mid-August. Flowering Group 2 (Bedford 1938) Self Fertile Bare Root Trees One Year Maiden SJA Â£22.75 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days Plum 'Czar' Dessert/Cooker. Medium sized round-oval fruit which has dark red to blue skin with a light blue bloom. The yellowish-green flesh is tender with a pleasant acid flavour. Its season of use is early August. Flowering Group 3 (Hertfordshire 1871) Self Fertile.

Containerised Trees Two Year Bush (Pixy) Â£40.75 each Bare Root Trees One Year Maiden Pixy Â£27.00 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days One Year Maiden VVA-1 Â£27.00 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days One Year Maiden SJA Â£22.75 each Plum 'Edda' Dessert. Blue skin. The yellow flesh has a fine rich flavour. Its season of use is late August. Flowering Group 2 (Norway 1950) Sold Out Plum 'Excalibur' Dessert. Very large fruit which has pale yellow skin which is mostly covered with a red-orange flush and dots if exposed to the sun with a light, pale blue bloom. The pale yellow flesh is moderately juicy and sweet with an excellent texture and flavour. Its season of use is August. Flowering Group 2 (Bristol 1980) Sold Out Plum 'Giant Prune' Dessert. Very large oval fruits which have vermilion-red skin with is covered with fine purple bloom.

The green flesh is coarse, not the best dessert quality but reliable in exposed areas and cooks well. Its season of use is early September. Flowering Group 3 (USA 1893) Self Fertile Sold Out Plum 'Gordon Castle' Dessert. Large fruit which has greenish yellow skin. The flesh is rather firm, sweet, with an excellent flavour. Its season of use is early September. Flowering Group 3 (Scotland) Self Fertile Sold Out Plum 'Guinevere' Dessert. Large heavy cropping fruits. Good shelf life when stored in a fridge. Its season of use is late September. Flowering Group 3 (Kent 2000) Self Fertile Bare Root Trees One Year Maiden SJA Â£22.75 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days Two Year 1/2 Standard SJA Â£31.25 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days Plum 'Haganta' Dessert. Large fruit which has blue skin. The flesh is strongly scented with an excellent flavour. Disease resistant. Keeps well. Its season of use is September.

Flowering Group 3 (Germany) Bare Root Trees One Year Maiden VVA-1 Â£29.00 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days One Year Maiden SJA Â£22.75 each Plum 'Herman' Dessert. Medium sized fruits which have reddish blue turning to blue-black skin which are covered by thick, pale blue bloom. The golden flesh has an improved flavour of Czar. Its season of use is mid-July. Flowering Group 2 (Sweden 1970) Self Fertile Bare Root Trees One Year Maiden VVA-1 Â£27.00 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days One Year Maiden SJA Â£22.75 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days Two Year 1/2 Standard SJA Â£31.25 each Plum 'Heron' Dessert. Medium to large sized round fruits which have mottled blue skin with patches of purple and some red lines. The flesh is is firm and juicy. Its season of use is mid-August.

Flowering Group 2 (Raised by Rivers 1875) Sold Out Plum 'Jubilee' Dessert. Similar to Victoria but larger and picks one week earlier. Superb eating quality. Its season of use is mid-August. Flowering Group 3 (Sweden 1985) Self Fertile Bare Root Trees One Year Maiden VVA-1 Â£27.00 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days One Year Maiden SJA Â£22.75 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days Plum 'Kirke's' Dessert. Large round fruits which have dark purple skin which is covered in blue bloom. The greenish yellow flesh is firm, juicy, and very richly flavoured. Its season of use is early September. Flowering Group 3. (London 19th Century) Sold Out Plum 'Laxton's Cropper' Dessert/Cooker. Medium sized oval fruits which dark blue, black when fully ripe skin which is covered by thick, light blue bloom. The greenish yellow flesh is moderately juicy and of good flavour. Its season of use is early September.

Flowering Group 3 (Bedford 1906) Self Fertile Sold Out Plum 'Mallard' Dessert. Medium sized, oval to oblong shaped fruits which have red skin and are covered in bloom. Good quality flesh. Its season of use is mid-August. Flowering Group 2. (Sawbridgeworth 1885) Bare Root Trees One Year Maiden Brompton Â£22.75 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days Plum â€˜Marjories Seedlingâ€™ Dessert/Cooker. The latest picking plum. Large oval fruits which has purple skin which is covered with blue bloom. The yellow flesh is firm, juicy, and moderately sweet. Its season of use is late September. Good cropper. (Berkshire 1912) Flowering Group 5. Self Fertile.

Bare Root Trees One Year Maiden Pixy Â£27.00 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days One Year Maiden SJA Â£22.75 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days One Year Maiden Brompton Â£22.75 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days Two Year Bush VVA-1 Â£30.75 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days Plum 'Methley' Dessert. This variety is one of the finest Japanese plums. Medium sized, rounded fruit with a red skin. The red flesh is juicy and sweet with a mild flavour. Its season of use is early August. Flowering Group 1. Self Fertile Containerised Trees Two Year Bush (SJA) Â£38.50 each Plum â€˜Opalâ€™ Dessert. Medium sized fruit which has orange-red to mauve skin which is covered in pale bloom with russet dots and some small russet patches. The golden yellow flesh has a superb flavour.

One of the most reliable garden plums. Its season of use is late July. (Sweden 1925) Flowering Group 3. Self Fertile Bare Root Trees One Year Maiden Pixy Â£27.00 each One Year Maiden VVA-1 Â£27.00 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days One Year Maiden SJA Â£22.75 each One Year Maiden Brompton Â£22.75 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days Two Year 1/2 Standard SJA Â£31.25 each Plum 'Purple Pershore' Dessert/Cooker. Very large oval fruits which have purple, almost black skin, with light coloured bloom. The yellow flesh is firm, not very juicy or sweet but good flavour for cooking and preserving. Its season of use is late August.

Flowering Group 3 (Worcestershire) Self Fertile Bare Root Trees One Year Maiden Brompton Â£22.75 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days Plum 'Queens Crown' Dessert/Cooker. Very large roundish oval fruits which have dark red skin with numerous small yellow dots and a light blue bloom. The golden yellow flesh is firm, sweet and full of flavour. Its season of use is late August. Flowering Group 3 Bare Root Trees One Year Maiden Brompton Â£22.75 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days Plum 'River's Early Prolific' Dessert. Small round fruits which have purple skin which is covered in lavender bloom. The golden yellow flesh is rather firm. juicy, sweet and of good flavour. Its season of use is late July.

Flowering Group 2 (Herfordshire 1820) Self Fertile Bare Root Trees One Year Maiden Pixy Â£27.00 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days One Year Maiden VVA-1 Â£27.00 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days One Year Maiden SJA Â£22.75 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days Two Year Bush VVA-1 Â£30.75 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days Two Year 1/2 Standard SJA Â£31.25 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days Plum 'Sanctus Hubertus' Dessert. Large oval fruits which have dark red skin with thick, blue bloom and some small brown russet patches and dots. The yellow flesh has a good flavour and is quite rich. One of the best croppers. Its season of use is late July.

Flowering Group 3 (Belgium 1966) Self Fertile Sold Out Plum 'Seneca' Dessert. Large oval fruits which have reddish purple skin. The yellow flesh is very sweet. Its season of use is early September. Flowering Group 3 (USA 1937) Sold Out Plum 'Thames Cross' Dessert/Cooker. Very large long and oval shaped fruits which have yellow skin. The flesh is sweet, juicy, with a good flavour. Its season of use is early September. Flowering Group 3. (Bristol 1938) Sold Out Plum â€˜Valorâ€™ Dessert/Cooker. Large fruit which has dark red skin. Has greenish coloured flesh. Its season of use is mid-September. (Canada 1968) Flowering Group 3. Self Fertile Sold Out Plum â€˜Victoriaâ€™ Dessert. Large oval fruits which has bright red skin and its covered in pale blue bloom. The pinkish flesh is firm, juicy, somewhat sweet and subacid. Disease prone but very tolerable considering the quality and quantity. Its season of use is late August.

(Sussex 19th Century) Flowering Group 3. Self Fertile Bare Root Trees One Year Maiden Pixy Â£27.00 each One Year Maiden VVA-1 Â£27.00 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days One Year Maiden SJA Â£22.75 each One Year Maiden Brompton Â£22.75 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days Two Year Bush VVA-1 Â£30.75 each Two Year Bush SJA Â£27.75 each Two Year 1/2 Standard SJA Â£31.25 each Plum 'Violetta' Dessert. Blue skin. The yellow flesh is sweetly flavoured. A compact grower bearing heavy crops. Its season of use is mid-August. Flowering Group 3. (Sweden 1990) Self Fertile Sold Out Plum 'Warwickshire Drooper' Dessert/Cooker. Medium to large egg shaped fruits which have primrose yellow skin which is spotted and speckled with brownish-red, with grey bloom.

The yellow flesh is excellent for cooking. Its season of use is mid-August. Flowering Group 2 (Worcestershire/Gloucestershire pre 1920's) Self Fertile Bare Root Trees One Year Maiden SJA Â£22.75 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days Two Year 1/2 Standard SJA Â£31.25 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days Plum 'Yellow Pershore' Dessert/Cooker. A medium sized oval shaped fruit which has canary yellow skin. The yellow flesh is very firm, dry, a high quality cooking plum. Its season of use is mid-August.

Flowering Group 2 (Worcestershire 19th Century) Self Fertile Bare Root Trees One Year Maiden SJA Â£22.75 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days Two Year 1/2 Standard SJA Â£31.25 each Phone or email to reserve now for collection within 10-14 days The Fruit Trees Weï¿½ve carefully selected older, more unusual varieties of fruit trees, that will grow this far north in Northumberland, from a nursery in Yorkshire, R.V. Roger Ltd.ï¿½ It is a mixed orchard of apples (culinary, dessert and cider), crab apples pears, plums, damsons, greengage, andï¿½ medlar. Some of these heritage fruit trees have interesting histories and youï¿½ll find signs in the orchard to tell you of these. A list of the trees we have in the orchard may be found at bottom of this page. The Doddington Apple Tree In the old orchard of Doddington Farm an unknown variety of apple tree has been found. We have taken cuttings from these trees which have been grafted and grown-on.

These were planted in the orchard in Autumn 2011. Photograph Blue Tit Plum Trees - Chris Bowers Blue Tit Plum Trees Dessert Blue fruit An early variety with the blue-black yellow fleshed fruits of fine dessert quality which are ready to eat from mid August. Heavy cropping, reliable and self fertile so will crop well on its own. For the heaviest cropping potential pollinate with: Czar, Victoria, Swan, Violetta etc. Photo is generic. £19.60 UK mainland delivery is charged at £8.95. Sending a tree through the post isn't easy, so our parcels are expertly packed to keep your goods in the best condition. There is no surcharge on the delivery of larger parcels/orders. Tree size as supplied varies but is usually between 3.5' - 4.5' on despatch. A few varieties might be slightly smaller, some a little bigger, of course it does vary but this is a good average. WE SUPPLY YOUNG TREES - and are proud to do so. Although we are sometimes requested to supply older/bigger trees, the percieved advantages are outwighed by disadvantages!

Older trees take longer to establish and will fruit no more quickly. The young trees we send out grow away and establish so quickly and healthily & often yield within 1 season of planting. Our customers even report fruits the first year of planting! All professional fruit growers prefer to plant young trees rather than older. Our soft fruit bushes are usually 2 years old. Everything is stringently graded, grown on the nursery and well packed! No need to be in - You can request your parcel to be left in a safe place, or stipulate an alternative delivery address, at the checkout. Free 16 page booklet with every order dealing with all aspects of fruit growing. Gold Standard Health & Quality We have in place very rigorous standards for the health, providence and uniformity of all our fruiting plants & trees. Our Nursery and the stock we grow is inspected and passported for health regularly by DEFRA experts [formerly the Ministry of Agriculture] and we have in place our own stringent controls and inspection programmes to ensure our fruiting bushes and trees are the best, most disease free stocks available and truly beyond compare. We always propagate from certified stock where this exists and have the highest standards regarding providence and grading.

If only the very best will do - as it should - then you can rely on a Chris Bowers fruiting plant to give the most exemplary results available. We firmly believe that only the very healthiest stock can and does produce vastly superior results - and it shows. Our Guarantee We are proud of each & every plant & tree we despatch from our Nursery. If it fails to thrive or live up to your expectations we will replace or refund it. This is in addition to your statutory rights. We may rarely ask for details of care and cultivation given to it, or arrange for a return of the item for inspection, to assist in our own programme of improvement. Sign Up to Receive Plum trees for sale | Buy fruit trees online | Free advice Also known as Yellow Egg, Yellow Pershore is a self-fertile heavy cropping culinary plum. compare More about Plum trees If you are new to growing fruit trees, plum trees make an excellent choice. Plum trees are easy to grow - usually easier than apples and pears - and require very little training or pruning. The only horticultural challenge is that plums flower quite early in spring, so locations that are prone to frosts are best avoided (or choose a late-flowering or frost-resistant variety).

They thrive in most conditions, but they prefer water-retentive soils, and mulching is therefore particularly important for plum trees - farmyard manure is ideal. Unlike most apples and pears, many plum varieties are self-fertile or partially self-fertile and do not need a pollination partner. For plum varieties that are not self-fertile, another plum tree of a different variety flowering at the same time is usually all that is necessary to ensure good pollination and heavy crops - there are few of the pollination incompatibilities found with apples, pears and cherries. Plums are also more nutrient-rich than apples or pears, and comparable to some other "superfoods" such as blueberries. Although plum trees do suffer from a range of diseases, they seem to catch them less often than other fruit varieties. Most important of all, the flavour of ripe home-grown plums is vastly superior to shop-bought fruit. Indeed in our opinion freshly-picked dessert plums can offer the most exquisite sweet flavours of any fruit available from the temperate garden. We offer mostly 'European' plum trees - from the species Prunus domestica.

European plums have a much better and more interesting range of flavours than the 'Japanese' plums usually found in supermarkets. Most garden plum trees in Northern Europe are of this species, and they are well suited to temperate climates, being hardier than the Japanese varieties and flowering later. Whilst European plums do not store particularly well, the fruit usually ripens over a 1-2 week period, during which time the tree can be picked daily to ensure a steady supply of fruit. There is also a sub-group of European plums known as Gages, usually ranked within the species Prunus domestica, but sometimes sub-categorised as the "Reine Claude" group. Gage trees look similar to plum trees but the fruits are smaller and rounder than European plums, and either green or golden/yellow in colour. Gage trees prefer slightly warmer growing conditions than other European plums to bring out their full flavour, and their natural home is France - but they can be grown in any temperate climate. Gages are renowned for their unique distinctive rich-sweet flavour, .

Question: Which fruit has varieties called Blue Tit, Czar and Early Laxton?
Answer: Plum